title: Removal of collagen nerve conduits (NeuraGen) after unsuccessful implantation: focus on histological findings.
abstract: Nerve conduits are nonneural, hollow tubular structures designed to bridge the gap of a sectioned nerve, to protect the nerve from scar formation, and to guide the regenerating fibers into the distal nerve stump. In the 8-year experience of our department, four patients aged 14 to 50 years had an unsuccessful implantation of a nerve conduit (NeuraGen, Integra, Plainsboro, NJ). In these four patients, the collagen tubes were replaced by an autogenous nerve graft. The histological specimens showed characteristic histological findings of a scar neuroma without any signs of foreign body reaction in three cases and with minimal foreign body reaction in one case. The collagen nerve tube was completely resorbed in all cases after a time period of 6 to 17 months and could not be detected marco- or microscopically.To our knowledge, this is the first report in the English and German literature describing the histological characteristics of explanted collagen nerve tubes in humans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, University Hospital of Schleswig-Holstein, Lübeck, Germany.
authors.forename: Eirini
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Liodaki
authors.forename: Inge
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bos
authors.forename: Joern A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Lohmeyer
authors.forename: Oezge
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Senyaman
authors.forename: Karl Ludwig
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Mauss
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Siemers
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mailaender
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Stang
mesh_terms: D020341:Absorbable Implants; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003094:Collagen / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016067:Nerve Transfer / Q000379:methods; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D059348:Peripheral Nerve Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D017211:Treatment Failure
chemical_list: D003094:Collagen